Sunday, July 4, 2010

World War I kinda shook things up in Europe and resulted in a shift in the balance of power. As you can image, many countries weren't ok with this. Japan invaded china, Germany invaded Poland. I mean everyone was kickn butt lol Ok so WWII .Germany also invaded France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Italy declared war on France, but then France surrendered. So they were divided between Italy and Germany. This meant that France was now neutralized. Germany, then, sought an invasion of Great Britain. They failed once ( if my memory serves me correct) and then with the help of french ports, they succeeded over Britain. Japan is still kickn china's butt lol So, the US ( a neutral ) assisted china along with other allies. So, formed were the allies and the axis powers. Germany, of course was apart of the axis, and the US and great Britain, apart of the allies. Our Navy protected British convoys and they helped us when they could. This resulted in Germany getting pissed at us, and we had to engage in a naval warfare. A lot of other stuff happens and eventually it's GLOBAL. Japan started attacking great Britain and American holdings and this led the allies to formally declare war on japan. Germany and other countries responded by declaring war on the US. D day was the day we defeated the German army, and we continued to push back the German forces. Germany tried one last time to come back, but ultimately the Allies won. after the war, the UN was formed. The economy was exhausted. There were many casualties, some innocent, and many soldiers. During this time, there was the holocaust so that added to the death toll.

I was looking at different photography. I found this picture and immediately became preoccupied with the writing to the right of the statue. I started googling the people etched in the stone with no results. I looked closer *zooming in* and saw that one of the people from Maryland was a SGT. I thought "could this be a war memorial". I found some additional information on the photo.

Photograph taken by: Lorissa Shepstone

It was taken at the Cambridge American Cemetery. It was established as a temporary military cemetery (say that 5xs fast) in 1943 on the land donated by the University of Cambridge. The site was later deemed as "the only permanent American World War II military cemetery in the British Isles and was dedicated 16 July 1956." It is one of fourteen permanent American World War II military cemetery memorials erected on foreign soil by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Anyway, the picture that I found had the word "To Defend" at the top. I actually thought that "To Defend" was the name of it. So I googled that as well. I found out that "To Defend" was apart of a larger inscription. Its from The Golden book and it reads "THE AMERICANS, WHOSE NAMES HERE APPEAR,WERE PART OF THE PRICE THAT FREE MEN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THIS CENTURY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PAY TO DEFEND HUMAN LIBERTY AND RIGHTS ALL WHO SHALL HEREAFTER LIVE IN FREEDOM WILL BE HERE REMINDED THAT TO THESE MEN AND THEIR COMRADES WE OWE A DEBT TO BE PAID WITH GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THEIR SACRIFICE AND THE HIGH RESOLVE THAT THE CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY DIED SHALL LIVE ETERNALLY". Along the wall are four statues: a soldier, a sailor, an airman and a Coast Guardsman.The names that ran the length of the memorial were the names of a little more than 5,000 lost/missing soldiers. May we never take our lives or our freedom for granted. May we forever remember the lives lost and the heart and souls poured out on the battlefield.

The Church of England ( COE) was THE church lol I mean, they had control of everything. They WERE the government. So, it makes sense to me why, if anyone was to rebel, they also rebelled religion. They also forced everyone to go to church, you had no choice and there was only one belief. If you're forced into doing something, you dont really want to do it. This led to the enlightenment // great awakening , and the age of reason. Ok so, colonies were setting up shop in America. Get this though, they were STILL apart of the COE. Meaning, their tax money went there. Great Britain controlled everything that went on in America because they were still apart of the church. Remember, settlers from England came to America, and with them came their religion. It started in England, but in America people started the reformation process. Pretty much, taking a look at their beliefs, and seeing what was wrong with it, and improving it. So they were pretty much making their own religions lol In fact, America was known for its freedom of religion. Many different colonies were formed simply because they believed something different. We had Quakers, Puritans, Catholics...you name, we had it. Because of the opposing views that were forming, America wanted to be separated from Great Britain. Religion played a huge part in the American Revolution ( a war between the 13 colonies and Great Britain for independence).They maintained that God was all for it and would help them out. Ministers served as priests in the military,and also on congress. Which , again, makes religion and the government one in the same. We won the American Revolution and it deeply damaged the COE. After the American Revolution, the second continental congress was formed. They adopted the declaration of independence, and it was signed on the 4th of July in 1781. Which brings us to our independence day!!
John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail,

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

He was off by a couple days, but he was right about the way we celebrate it !!